Flexible pipe-joint.



. W, A. GREBNLAW.

FLEXIBLE PIPE JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED 11111.19. 1910.

Patented Dec. 20, 1910.

WareAamn/zaw, by 177% U1v E sTA Es "PATENT OFFICE.

ARR N AJTGREENLAW, or MELROSE' HIGHLANDS, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR To THE GREENLAW MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,- A

conronATIou or MAINE.

To all whom it mag concern:

' Be it known that I, WARREN A.- GREEN Law, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Melrose Highlands, in the county of Middlesex and State of M assachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Pipe- Joints, of which the following is a specification. 2 I v This invention relates to flexible pipe joints and has for its object the production of a suitable means for packing the joint betweenthe two pipe members so that leakage is prevented as the material flows from one pipe member to the other and for proriding a suitable stop for the ball when moved into the cup-shaped member.

' The invention consists in certain novel features ofveonstructlon and arrangement of,

parts which will be readily understood by reference to the description of the drawings and to the claims hereinafter given.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 represents a plan of aipipe. joint embodying the features of this invention. Fig, 2 represents avertical section of the same,and-Fig. '3 represents a transverse section of the same, the

cutting plane being on line3-3 on Fig. 2.

Similar characters designate like parts throughout the drau-mgs. y

In tl e drawings, 10 represents a pipe member provided with a cup-shaped end 11 made integraltherewith and having. an interior chamber 12. The ,eo-acting pipe member 13 is provided with a'ball end 14 which is adapted to enter the chamber 12 of said eup-shaped member. The extreme end. of the cup-shaped member is made flaring as indieated at 15 and has a spherical inner wall 16 eccentric-to the ball end 14. v

Intel-posed between the spherical wall 16 of the flaring end 15 and the periphery of the ball 14 is a ring 17, the inner wall of which is eccentric to the. outer wall thereof but normally concentricwith the ball end 14. By linking the inner wall of this member 17 eccentr c to the outer wall thereof one end thereof is made much thinner than its flaring end 15;.

opposite end andthis thinner end is slightly the innerend of the ball member 14 and.

Specification of'Letters Patent. Application filed March 19, 1910. Serial No, 550,535. g V

FLEXIBLE PIPE-JOINT.

Patented Dec. 20, 1910.

inner wall of the chamber 12 a spiral spring .21 which normally retains the member 17 in engagement with the packing ring 18. p

The cap 20 is provided with a semi-,

spherical seat 22 which bears upon the outer periphery of the ball 14 and prevents the outward movement of the pipe member 13.

By making the end of t e cup-shaped member l2'flaring as indicated at 15 a larger ball is capable of being used and as a c0nse-- quence a greater seating surface is provided for said ball upon the packing ring 18, thereby making the packing ring 18 last considerably longer than has been the cas in the joints heretofore used.

Normally when the joint is in use there is a slight space between the inner wall of the member 17 and the periphery of the ball 14 and there is a similar space between the outer wall of said member 17 and the spherical wall 16 o'f'the flaring end 15, thereby reducing the frictional contact between the various members to a minimum. It is -obyious, therefore, that during this movement of the pipe member 13 about the center of the ball 14 the periphery of said ball will bear upon the seat 22 and any tendency for the air or other material passpipe members 10 and 13 or by the compression of the spring 21 when the ball end 14 is forced. inwardly from any cause will force the thinner end of said member 17 into-the packing ring 18 and cause this packing ring to more firmly contact with the periphery of the ball 14 and'thereby prevent any leakage under various conditions of pressure within the chamber 12 and various positions of the ball member 14 relative to the cup-shaped member 11. When the ball end 14 is forced inwardly it will come into contact with the semi-spherical inner wall of the member 17 and force the member 17 I into contact with the semi-spherical wall 16 of the flaring end 15, thus forming an effectual stop for any further inward movement of the ball while at the same time owing to, the fact that the inner wall of the member 17 is concentric with the periphhas interposed between this end and the cry of the ball 14 said pipe be moved about the center 14 in either direction and without at any time cutting off any portion of the flow of material through said joint. This makes a very effective pipe joint which is especially adapted for use in connection with train pipes through which air is conveyed to the an brakes of a train, as the member 17, controlled by the spring 21, and the pressure contained within the chamber always acts upon the packing ring 18 under all conditions to make an effectual seal between said packing member and the ball end 14. to prevent any leakage by the seat 22.

' 23 and the annular grooves 24, this is effectually done.

It is believed that the operation and many advantages of the invention will be fully understood from the foregoing.

Having thus described my invention; I claim:

1. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination of a pipe member provided with a cupshaped end; a second pipe member having a ball-shaped end positioned within said cup-shaped end; a cap threaded to said cup shaped end; an annular packing ring therein; and a spring-pressed ring having a semispherical surface concentric with said ballshaped end and a thin edge embedded in said annular packing ring.

2. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination of a pipe member provided with a cupshaped portion terminating in a flaring end and having a semi-spherical inner wall; a second pipe member having a ball-shaped end positloned within said flaring end; a seat for said ball secured to said cup-shaped end; a packing interposed between said ball and the walls of said cup-shaped end; a ring interposed between said ball and flarng end, said ring extending beyond the lnner end of said ball and having a thin edge bearing upon said packing, the outer face of said ring being semi-spherical and eccentric to its inner face; and a spring for forcing the thin edge of said ring into said packlng.

3. Ina flexible pipe joint, the combination of a pipe member provided with a cupshaped end; a second pipe member having a ball-shaped end positioned within said of said ball end I to said cup-shaped end; a packing posed between said ball and the walls of said cup-shaped end; a ring with a thin edge bearing upon said packing, the outer and inner faces of which are semi-spherical and eccentric to each other; and a spring forforcing the thin edge of said ring into said packing.

4. In aflexible pipe joint, the combination of a ipe member provided with a cupshaped cylindrical portion terminating in an enlarged flaring end having a semispherical inner wall; a second pipe member having a i said cup-shaped end and having its periphery eccentric to said semi-cylindrica wall; a seat for said ball secured to said cupshaped end; a packing interposed between said ball and the walls of said cup-shaped end; a ring witha thin edge bearing upon said packing and having its outer wall concentric to said semi-spherical wall and its inner wall concentric with the periphery of said ball; and yielding means for forcing said ring outwardly to permit the thin edge thereon to force said packing against the outer face of said ball.

5. Inaflexiblc pipejoint, the combination of a pipe member provided with a cupball-shaped end posltioned within member 13 may I cup-shaped end; a seat for said ball secured I intershaped end; a second pipe member having a ball-shaped end positioned within said cupshaped end; a cap threaded to said cupshaped endprovided with a groove in its inner wall and an inwardly extending flange; an annular packing ring therein retained in position by means of said groove and flange; and a spring-pressed ring having a semi-spherical surface concentric with said ball-shaped end and a thin edge embedded in said annular packing ring.

6. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination of a pipe member provided with a liar ing end and having a semi-spherical inner wall; a' second pipe member having a ballshaped end positioned within said flaring end, the spherical faces of the adjacent ends being eccentric to each other; a removable cap secured on the flaring end and provided with a seat for said ball-shaped end; a packing in said cap between the wall thereof and the ball; a ring interposed between the spherical'surfaces of the flaring end and the ball-shaped end of the two pipe members, the inner and outer sides of said ring being eccentric to each other and concentric respectively to the ball and the flaring end and normally out of contact with the said ring and having its thin outer edge bearing upon said packing; and yielding means between said ring and the bottom of the flaring end of the pipe member.

7. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination of a pipe member provided with a flaring end and having a semi-spherical inner end, the spherical faces of the adjacent ends being eccentric to each other; a removable cap secured on the flaring end and provided with a seat for said ball-shaped end; a packing in said cap between the wall thereof and the ball; a ring interposed between the spherical surfaces of the flaring end and the ball-shaped end of the two pipe members, the inner and outer sides of said ring being eccentric to each other and concentric respectively to the ball and the flaring end and normally out of contact with the said ringand having its outer edge bearing upon said packing; and yieldlng means between said ring and the bottom of the flaring end of the pipe member.

Signed by me at 4 Post Office Sq., Boston, Mass, this 18th day of March, 1910. WARREN A. GREENLAV, Witnesses:

EDNA'C. CLEVELAND, NATHAN C. LOMBARD. 

